In
accordance with the State of California Penal Code, Section
830.31(b), “Persons designated by a local agency as park rangers,
and regularly employed and paid as such, are peace officers;
provided that the primary duty of any such peace officer shall be
the protection of park property and preservation of the peace
therein.” In addition Section 5782.26 of the California Public
Resource Code provides that the police appointed or employed by the
Board shall have, within the Park District for which they are
employed, all the powers of police officers of municipal
corporations.

There seems
to be some confusion in the minds of some select individuals as to
the authority of Park Rangers. The Rangers have the same authority
as local police relative to anything happening on Park District
property or at District operated programs. The Park District’s Park
Rangers issue warnings, issue citations, make arrest, etc., as do
police.

Anyone
interfering with a Park Ranger in the performance of his enforcement
duties is subject to the same criminal prosecution as an individual
who interferes with any police officer.